Shannon snuck out of the cafeteria door, hoping to remain unseen. She rolled her eyes and thought back to the scene in the commissary. Colonel O'Neill had introduced her to several members of "the gang", including someone named McKay.

Sighing heavily, she moved away from the door and began walking down the hall. The only way to describe the incident in the commissary was "interesting". McKay had hit on her and if she knew she was going to be around for a while, she might have entertained the thought of pursuing the social aspect with the good doctor.

When she turned the corner, she came upon a new set of doors. Opening one, she stepped inside, unaware she'd been followed.

Charlie Kawalsky stood just around the corner Shannon had just turned. He flipped open his cell phone and called Colonel Andrew Samuels.

"She's just stepped inside Martouf's lab," he reported. Shutting the phone, he snagged Skaara, who was heading in the opposite direction. Speaking softly to the younger man, he said, "Female intruder in 'Touf's lab. Cute." Charlie pulled his sidearm and slid up to the door, pressing himself against the wall.

Around the other corner came another woman. Also having been alerted to the intruder, she strode confidently up to the laboratory door. Easing it open, she spoke softly.

"Lost, I gather?"

Shannon had been peering at a set of vials, but she felt the ice slide down her back at the cold voice. She turned and smiling, spoke.

"Hi, I'm Shannon. Just taking a look around, you know... got left behind." Shannon managed to keep her voice steady, despite her apprehension. She held out her hand.

The other woman ignored the offered hand and kept her distance. "Looking for alien weapons, are you?"

Suddenly, Shannon remembered why the woman was familiar to her. She'd seen the photograph attached to the file in Colonel O'Neill's office. Ma'at O'Toole. Adopting the same casual look the other woman wore, Shannon said, "I'm sorry. My purpose here is classified until there has been a briefing. I'm sure you understand."

Ma'at snorted. "You aren't sorry. As for the "classified", Cinderella, watch me not care. Until there is a briefing, all you are to me is an intruder, a spy and very possibly a thief. So, how about you put your hands on your head and walk very slowly out of there."

Raising her arm, Ma'at aimed a zat in Shannon's direction. "If I fire into that room, there is no telling what will blow up," she warned.

Shannon did her best to look unconcerned. "Go for it. You'll know only what you are told and only when you are told," she countered.

Immediately, Ma'at's eyes flashed and her voice deepened. "So said the last agent that tried to kill me," she growled. Beckoning with the zat, she continued, "Come along, space cadet."

Shannon realized that Ma'at was a goa'uld and kept her expression neutral. Neat looking, but if she's brandishing it, it's gotta hurt. Smiling graciously, she held out both hands.

"Whatever you say," she claimed as she shrugged. Ma'at smirked.

"Yeah, sure. Whatever I say." She whistled. There was a humming sound as two more zats were activated and aimed in Shannon's direction.

Shannon nodded. Sauntering past, the other woman, she muttered the word, "Crazy." Ma'at chucked humorously.

"Yeah, but it's our crazy and you're threatening it," she snapped.

Shannon stopped and turned around. Ma'at's finger went white on the trigger.

"How so? You should have waited," Shannon replied as she took a step in Ma'at's direction. Ma'at stepped back a pace, her finger tightening even more on the zat.

"Waited for what? For you to stroll around, sneaking into offices and laboratories full of "classified" and personal things?" she snarked. "To find something to use against us? I don't think so, Miss CIA. If you were on the level, you'd have shown some respect and kept your wandering feet where they were supposed to be."

After counting to ten in her head, Shannon replied, "You have seriously misinformed about me. My original mission –WITH APPROVAL FROM GENERAL HAMMOND- was to sneak in and see how far I could get. I did that." Condescendingly, she continued. "Secondly, I report what I want to report and not a damn thing more. Weaponry is what I'm interested in. For governmental use ONLY." Turning away, she attempted to continue out the door.

"Stop. Now." Ma'at ordered.

Out of nowhere, a man's voice chimed in. "It'd be in your best interest, Agent, to do as she says."

Looking at the door, Shannon saw a man with silver birds on his shoulders and "Samuels" written on his name tag. She stopped, but she didn't turn around. The man continued.

"Thank you. Now, if you'd like to inform us who it was that sent you so that we can verify your story, that would be most helpful." He paused. "Please."

Shannon thought for a moment. She wasn't supposed to answer to anyone but General Hammond, and this went violently against Agency regulations. Sighing, she realized she didn't give a damn.

"Director Kennedy, Langley," she admitted. Oh, I am going to be in so much trouble for this.

"Kennedy," Colonel Samuels repeated. He pulled out his cell and dialed. Shannon eyed Ma'at and noticed the other woman hadn't relaxed an iota.

Samuels listened intently to the person on the other end of his call, clearly not pleased with what he heard. He closed the phone slowly, and turned to Shannon.

"Alright, Agent, you can stand down," he told her. Shannon relaxed only slightly.

"Thank you."

Colonel Samuels continued. "I expect we can take you back to General Hammond's office now and not find you wandering around anywhere you shouldn't be again." He gave her a stern look. "Correct?"

Shannon wasn't intimidated in the least. For now. Out loud, she said, "Of course, lead on."

Smirking slightly, Samuels said, "That's good to know. I'm not sure if we have any body bags readily available." He motioned down the hall. "Oh, no. After you, I'm sure."

Shannon started walking, aware of the large crowd that was now gathered in the hallway. "Where am I going, exactly?"

"General Hammond's office. I'm sure you remember the way."

Another man's voice penetrated the air. "Be careful, Colonel. She feigns ignorance in an attempt to gain information." Shannon stopped and glared at the man, struck by how blue his eyes were. Colonel Samuels interrupted her thoughts.

"That would be a waste of time, Martouf, the CIA supposedly knows everything. Check your lab." The colonel turned to Ma'at. "Turn down the homicidal and come with us." He continued following Shannon at a reasonable distance.

Ma'at lowered her zat, but didn't put it away. To the rest of her team standing in the hallway, she said, "Make a note of the rooms between here and the General's office." She followed Samuels down the hall.

Martouf turned to Charlie. "Do you have any idea how much damage she would have caused in there if she'd shot that thing?"